A recent British Grooms Association (BGA) survey has highlighted a key issue in equestrian employment, 55% of employed grooms do not have a written contract of employment, also known as a Written Statement of Employment Particulars.
Providing a written statement of employment particulars (AKA a contract of employment) is a legal requirement under UK employment law. It protects both the employer and the employee by setting clear expectations, ensuring compliance with employment law, and preventing disputes.
The survey, conducted in January 2025, gathered responses from 255 employed grooms, revealing that:
- 38% of full-time grooms do not have a contract
- 50% of part-time grooms do not have a contract
- 80% of zero-hours grooms do not have a contract
This issue affects grooms across all age groups:
- 9% of 16–18-year-olds have no contract
- 26% of under-21s have no contract
- 27% of 22–30-year-olds have no contract
- 47% of over-31s have no contract
Encouragingly, the survey indicated a small improvement in compliance, with 38% of full-time grooms working without a contract – a reduction compared to previous years.
Many members of the Equestrian Employers Association (EEA) are already leading the way in best employment practices, using tools such as the EEA Contract Creator to ensure their staff have legally compliant contracts.
However, the survey findings show that across the industry, there is still work to be done. For example, 25% of grooms who responded were told they were self-employed despite only working at one yard, a situation that is likely to be false self-employment. An illegal practice which can lead to serious repercussions for employers if reported.
“The lack of employment contracts in the equestrian industry remains a serious concern and the BGA, particularly as we often find that where there is no written contract, there are additional issues.”
Lucy Katan, Executive Director, British Grooms Association
To support equestrian employers, the EEA offers expert guidance and resources, including:
- The EEA Contract Creator – a simple way to generate legally sound contracts
- Employment law support – expert advice to keep your business compliant
- HR tools and templates – making managing staff easier
Ensuring every groom has a contract benefits everyone, providing security for employees and reducing risks for employers.
If you’re not yet using the EEA’s tools, now is the time to take action. Join today for an annual fee of just £49.50.